England wicketkeeper Matt Prior delivers a 'huge' win for Sussex

Sussex (240 & 235-5) beat Hampshire (206 & 266) by 5 wickets

3:58PM BST 14 Jul 2011

With the first Test match against India just a week away, England wickekeeper Matt Prior struck a superb 97 to wrestle the advantage away from Hampshire and steer Sussex to what he described as a 'huge' victory.

His contribution to Sussex's championship fortunes have been limited in 2011 due to his England commitments but when the club needed him to pull out the stops to prevent Hampshire from motoring to victory, he delivered an innings that was head and shoulders above any batting performance seen over the four days.

He faced 167 balls, 12 of which were hit cleanly but brutally for four with his full range of punchy drives and cuts and sweeps on show to give Sussex supporters not just a morale boost but an uplifting montage to recollect on dark days.

Playing on a testing track against decent spinners such as Danny Briggs and Imran Tahir had been good preparation for the series against India, he said.

"I could not have asked for any more. Batting on a tricky wicket like that, against the spinners and against Corky - there is so much fight left in him so you are always in a battle with him.

"Briggsy bowled brilliantly and gave our guys a lot of trouble. There were a lot of situations to deal with so it was great to get over the line. It was a huge win for us and walking off knowing I had contributed to the win meant a lot to me.

"There was the pressure of knowing I had to bat to the end - it was just like playing Test cricket. I came off at lunch and was as mentally tired if I had played an hour of Test cricket. I was in the place that I will be on Thursday at Lord's."

Sussex resumed yesterday on 82 for three needing 233 for victory which meant a big innings from Prior, who was two not out overnight and some substantial partnerships.

After seeing Luke Wells caught at slip off Cork in the fifth over, the pressure on Prior mounted though Cork opted to bowl a long spell before mixing up his attack by which time, the pendulum had swung back in Sussex's favour.

Briggs struck again after lunch bowling Andrew Hodd for 25 but from then to the end, it was the Prior show, in association with Ollie Rayner who quickly made use of his height and power by unleashing four boundaries.

Prior clearly told him to go for since there was no hogging one end to ensure he reached the century and when Rayner cut Sean Ervine for four to take Sussex past the post, he was three runs shy of the ton but wearing a wide grin as he walked off to a standing ovation.

It was Hampshire's fifth defeat of the summer which prompted Cork to describe staying up in the first division as a 'tall order.'